On 23 June 2021, 109 years after his birth, Alan Turing featured on the new £50 note in the UK, a first for an LGBT+ figure.
Many people including myself think that Alan Turing is a real life superhero mathematician. This computer pioneer helped to crack the Enigma code during the Second World War.
Though difficult to quantify the exact impact of Alan and his team’s contribution, some military historians believe that their effort brought forward the war by at least two years with 2 million lives saved.
If you haven’t yet, watch the film The Imitation Game if you wish, to get more back story.
However, because of his sexuality, Alan suffered immensely in Britain after the war. He was only given an apology in 2019 for the government’s mistreatment.
Although a few decades late, he is now honoured, valued, respected and widely celebrated – and rightly so.
I probably spend longer than most of the people looking at money notes.
And I have a good reason.
Physical notes help me to release a lot of negative notions and energetic stories attached to money.
Holding them in my hand, taking a look at them, carrying them to exchange the goods I need, when I’m switching on my native senses, I’m less likely to drown in the currents of past drama. Intrinsically and instinctively, I rewrite my script, knowing and seeing that money is neutral and can be used positively.
In our digital world now, we are easily caught up by any arbitrary number, troubled by anxiety or toxic comparison, many of us forget that money has a physical presence too, with each note, each coin having their own history and story to tell.
According to some people, Canadian $100 banknote gives off the scent of maple syrup; a 20,000 Peso Chilean banknote contains ink that changes colour when tilted; there are so many beautiful designs and sceneries in currencies across the global…
By connecting with the coins and notes directly, we keep gratitude of all provisions that we have access to at the front our minds.
Financial wellness is an important aspect of our overall wellbeing. A healthy relationship with money includes:
- using your resources wisely,
- having the confidence and skills to discuss money matters calmly,
- sensible budgeting and living within your means,
- minimising financial clutter such as debt,
- taking sustainability and the wider community into consideration,
- and the ability to enjoy your achievements and drinking in life’s pleasure without hoarding…
However, many of us don’t have a healthy, loving or good relationship with money, because we don’t have good role models. What usually feeds our mind is that people are either slaves to money, or so repelling against money that they end up being starved.
Nevertheless, once we turn our inner-light on, and see the truth about money, we can channel ease and grace to invite the provision, protection and nourishment that we need into our life.
It is our responsibility to build a more organic and healthier bond with money rather than what the mainstream society portrays.
It doesn’t always require constant, burnout-like hustling. It usually doesn’t cost you any big investments. It just demands you to be open-minded and take a leap of faith when required.
Pippa, a screenwriter, never thought that her money relationship could be positive, friendly or nurturing. Until she decided to scrap the popular (and unfair) opinions on money imposed by the dominant culture.
She had her first aha moment when taking a closer look at a £5 note – it was Elizabeth Fry on one side of the note, a social reformer, a national motherly figure – together with women and children in the background.
This image reminded Pippa of the relationship with her own mother, accepting and healing, which completely transformed how she felt about money.
What if money wants to support you living your life purpose? What if you and money mutually love and respect each other?
A SIMPLE MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: STUDYING A COIN
Here is a simple mindfulness meditation to help you connect with a coin (can be any coin in any currency):
- Choose a coin and place it in your hand, is it heavy or light? Does it have any edges?
- Take a moment to pay attention to the details of both sides of the coin: the shape, size, colour, its metal surface, the pictures, texts and words on it. Are there any consistent patterns? Is there anything standing out?
- Close your eyes, press it between your fingers, notice its pressure, temperature and texture.
- Once you are ready, close the practice by appreciating the work you’ve done to earn this coin, and giving thanks to the coin for any resources it may contribute to in your life.
NEXT STEP:
Think about what a healthy money relationship means to you as a creative person.
Reflect on which areas in your finance that you can plan better so that you can have more joy and peace, then go and do it! Get yourself educated if required, the earlier the better, but it’s never ever too late.
With love,
Yiye Zhang 章一叶
ps, if you need further help, check out the Money First Aid Kit I made for spiritual & creative minds.
